EU Set to Suggest Mandatory Fingerprinting on All IDs

In efforts to tackle terrorism and all other illicit activity across the EU, the European Commission aims to table a proposal on Tuesday, that all EU identification cards include fingerprinting, according to German daily Die Welt.

The requirement will be mandatory. Fingerprinting on ID cards, which can also be used for travel within the Union, is currently optional within the EU.

Speaking to Die Welt, European Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said the proposed measure to make fingerprinting and other biometric data compulsory on all EU ID cards aims to tighten security within the bloc’s borders and curb the spread of false documents.

“We have to tighten the screws until there’s no wiggle room left for terrorists or criminals and no means for them to launch attacks,” Avramopoulos told Die Welt.

Besides impeding access to money, fake documents, weapons and explosives, the measure will curb undetected border crossings.

Meanwhile, the German government has expressed its approval of the said measure as it “could provide an extra layer of security”, the country’s Interior Ministry told the German news agency dpa.

In the meantime, Greece has repeatedly been pressured to issue biometric ID cards  particularly in view of the growing number of migrants and refugees entering the country and traveling into the EU from there.

The issue spurred reactions late last year when passengers from Greece were subject to rigid security checks at German airports despite belonging to the Schengen Zone.